03

Fred joined a monastery that allowed no speaking except every ten years. At that time the monk could say two words. After ten years Fred came into the senior monk’s office and was allowed to speak two words. Fred said, “Food bad!” Another ten years goes by, and once again Fred goes into the office and speaks two words “Bed hard”. Ten years later, Fred enters the office and says, “I quit!” At that point the senior monk says, “I can see why all you ever did was complained!”

Most of us would have quit a lot earlier than Fred. We have a pretty nice lifestyle here and if things upset it we tend to complain. Now there is nothing wrong with complaining and if it is done properly complaints can possibly help improve the situation. The key is how one does it. Screaming and hollering is not usually helpful, but keeping silent is not always the best course of action. Telling a store about a problem can help them make changes and help them serve others better. The same is true about work conditions. If we neglect unsafe practices someone may get hurt and the company suffers. By speaking up or giving some constructive comments we can help the workplace be safer and possibly eliminate injuries. But what if the problem is personal? What if it is how one person treats another person? Then what should be done?

Jesus said “If your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.’

Jesus words were to help restore broken relationship and that is why Jesus came into this world.. Because of sin our relationship to God was broken and God could have simply complained about it, but instead He sent His only Son to die for us so that whoever believes in Jesus has forgiveness and that forgiveness means our relationship to God is healed.

That good news also helps us in our daily lives. When conflicts arise we recall Christ’s words of forgiveness and His advice for restoring broken relationships. When hardships hit us, we remember that in Christ we can do all things… that even includes those days when the “bed is hard and the food is bad”.